As a small-business owner and a taxpayer, I am forced to buy health insurance on the individual market, formerly known as the Affordable Care Act, which the Republicans decimated in 2017.

In rural Colorado, that means there was only one choice for health insurance, and that was Anthem Blue Cross. Anthem Blue Cross has revenues of $60 billion. Anthem/Blue Cross’s CEO makes $30 million a year.

I am self-employed, not a multi-millionaire. However, I do pay my insurance premiums. Recently, I was denied a procedure for my knees that keeps me walking.

It’s hard to believe that Anthem would rather pay $25,000-plus for knee replacements as opposed to a non-invasive procedure done in the doctor’s office.

I called the insurance company, and I was told that I would have to pay for the procedure out of my own pocket. I guess that means that I won’t get the procedure.

The insurance company would rather see me hobbled by decrepit knees, than out exercising and staying healthy. That is craziness.

It is long past time for an overhaul of our health insurance system. It is long past time that we get these incredibly insane profits out of health insurance and return the profitably to the people. These companies and CEOs should not be getting rich off our health issues.

Now is the time to demand universal health care for all Americans.

Holly B. Rankin

Cortez